'If you’re not getting the results, people will ask questions - as they
have been doing. We’ve been really united in this hard spell and the
boss has been keeping us together and trusting in what we do.'

The England star came off the bench in Arsenal's disastrous defeat on penalties to Bradford last Tuesday in the Capital One Cup, a result that sparked more intrigue into the future of Arsene Wenger.

He is well aware the next few games may decide both the club's fate and Wenger's come the end of the season.

'We know the games come thick and fast [over] the Christmas period,' he said to Arsenal Player.

'It’s
a really important time for everyone in the Premier League and if you
can string together a good number of results and get points on the
table, then it stands you in good stead for the run-in to the end of the
season.'

In full flow: Oxlade-Chamberlain takes on Reading's Pavel Pogrebnyak yesterday

Wenger trusted Theo Walcott with the centre-forward role against Reading, and along with Oxlade-Chamberlain the pair used their pace and trickery to create the space which allowed Cazorla and Lukas Podolski to thrive.

However, for all his influential play, Oxlade-Chamberlain didn't manage to get his name on the score-sheet.

Oxlade-Chamberlain's only goal this season came in the Capital One Cup

'I’m never happy with myself,' he said. 'I know I’ve got quite a good
shot so when an opportunity comes about and I don’t make the keeper
work, I’m not a happy boy.

'I want to be getting more goals and more assists, so I’m always beating
myself up when like tonight, I don’t. As long as the boys
are winning, that’s the main thing.

'I’ll keep plugging away and keep trying to do the right things on and
off the ball. I know it’s important [to work hard] for my full back.'

The former Southampton midfielder has found opportunities at a premium this season with the likes of Gervinho, Podolski, Walcott and Aaron Ramsey also being used out wide.

'Whenever I get the chance to play, I can guarantee I’m going to
give 100 per cent.

'I’m always hard on myself and push myself to do more.

'I’m sure the fans are doing that to me as well, as I’m finding out. I’m
just going to keep plugging away and keep working hard in games and in
training.'